U.S. patent number 8,272,494 [Application Number 12/967,271] was granted by the patent office on 2012-09-25 for conveyor assembly.
Invention is credited to William Lorn Dixon, Victor John Holodryga, Terry Douglas Houssian, Michael Ross Landry, Leslie Daren Scherle, Bradley Metro Zazula.
United States Patent |
8,272,494 |
Zazula , et al. |
September 25, 2012 |
Conveyor assembly
Abstract
A conveyor assembly includes a main conveyor and a swing auger
assembly pivotally coupled to an inlet end of the main conveyor for
loading particulate material into the main conveyor. The swing
auger assembly includes two first and second augers which are
slidable relative to one another to vary a length of the swing
auger assembly between a loading hopper at an inlet end of the
swing auger assembly and the main conveyor connected at an outlet
end of the swing auger. The swing auger assembly is suspended from
an overhead support member extending upwardly from the inlet end of
the main conveyor such that the swing auger assembly is pivotal
through an intermediate position overtop of the main conveyor
between first and second laterally offset positions on opposing
sides of the main conveyor.
Inventors: |
Zazula; Bradley Metro (Regina,
CA), Landry; Michael Ross (Regina, CA),
Dixon; William Lorn (Regina, CA), Scherle; Leslie
Daren (Regina, CA), Houssian; Terry Douglas
(Regina, CA), Holodryga; Victor John (Regina,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
46198197 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/967,271 |
Filed: |
December 14, 2010 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20120145517 A1 |
Jun 14, 2012 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
198/313;
198/666 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G
33/32 (20130101); A01C 15/003 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65G
15/26 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;198/312,313,315,664,666,668,317 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1137915 |
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Dec 1982 |
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CA |
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2398015 |
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Aug 2002 |
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CA |
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0684198 |
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May 1995 |
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EP |
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2010048695 |
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May 2010 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Bidwell; James R
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Dupuis; Ryan W. Satterthwaite; Kyle
R. Ade & Company Inc.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. An agricultural conveyor assembly comprising: a main conveyor
comprising a main conveyor tube and a main conveying member in the
main conveyor tube which is arranged to convey particulate material
from an inlet end to an outlet end of the main conveyor tube; a
frame supporting the main conveyor tube at an upward incline from
the inlet end to the outlet end in a working position of the main
conveyor; a loading hopper having a loading opening arranged to
load the particulate material therein; a swing auger assembly
extending in a longitudinal direction from an inlet end in
communication with the loading hopper so as to be arranged to
receive the loaded particulate material from the loading hopper to
an outlet end in communication with the inlet end of the main
conveyor so as to be arranged to discharge the loaded particulate
material into the inlet end of the main conveyor; the swing auger
assembly being pivotally coupled to the main conveyor such that the
swing auger is pivotal relative to the main conveyor tube about a
generally upright swing axis at the inlet end of the main conveyor;
a swing auger support member supported above the inlet end of the
main conveyor; a pivot member supported on the swing auger support
member at a location spaced above the outlet end of the swing auger
assembly for pivotal movement relative to swing auger support
member about the swing axis; and a suspension arm suspending the
swing auger assembly from the pivot member for pivotal movement
together with the pivot member about the swing axis.
2. The conveyor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the swing
auger support member is arranged to be fixed relative to the main
conveyor tube.
3. The conveyor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the swing
auger support member supports the pivot member on the swing
axis.
4. The conveyor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the swing
auger support member extends upwardly from the main conveyor tube,
and wherein the outlet end of the swing auger assembly is pivotally
coupled to the main conveyor at a location spaced inwardly from the
swing auger support member towards the outlet end of the main
conveyor tube.
5. The conveyor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the swing
auger support member comprises a lower portion extending upwardly
from the conveyor tube spaced forwardly from the swing axis and an
upper portion spaced above the discharge end of the swing auger
assembly which extends rearwardly from the lower portion towards
the outlet end of the main conveyor, the upper portion supporting
the pivot member thereon at the swing axis.
6. The conveyor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the
suspension arm comprises a linear actuator arranged to vary a
height of the inlet end of the swing auger assembly as a length of
the actuator is adjusted.
7. The conveyor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the
suspension arm comprises a hydraulic lift actuator arranged to
controllably vary a height of the inlet end of the swing auger
assembly as a length of the actuator is adjusted in response to a
hydraulic input.
8. The conveyor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the swing
auger assembly comprises a first auger housing having a first screw
therein to convey the particulate material from the loading hopper
to a discharge end of the first auger tube and a second auger
housing having a second screw therein to convey the particulate
material from the discharge end of the first auger tube into the
inlet end of the main conveyor, the first and second auger housings
being coupled for relative sliding movement in the longitudinal
direction to vary a length of the swing auger assembly, and the
suspension arm being coupled between the pivot member and the
second auger housing nearer to an inner end opposite the outlet end
than the outlet end of the swing auger assembly.
9. The conveyor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the main
conveyor tube includes an inlet opening arranged to receive the
particulate material from the swing auger assembly therethrough at
the inlet end of the main conveyor tube and wherein the swing auger
assembly further comprises: an annular driven member supported
about the inlet opening for rotation relative to the main conveyor
about the swing axis together with the swing auger assembly; and a
swing drive motor coupled to the annular driven member so as to be
arranged to rotate the annular driven and the swing auger assembly
therewith about the swing axis.
10. The conveyor assembly according to claim 9 wherein the swing
drive motor is supported on the main conveyor spaced radially
outward from the annular driven member in relation to the swing
axis, and the annular driven member comprises a circumferential
gear operatively connected to swing drive motor.
11. The conveyor assembly according to claim 9 wherein there is
provided an inlet housing supported at the inlet end of the main
conveyor having a top wall locating the inlet opening therein at
swing axis, the annular driven member being supported within the
inlet housing under the top wall of the inlet housing.
12. The conveyor assembly according to claim 9 wherein the swing
auger assembly includes a pair of auger mounts extending upwardly
from annular driven member at diametrically opposing sides of the
inlet opening, the auger mounts pivotally coupling the discharge
end of the swing auger assembly thereon for relative pivotal
movement about a substantially horizontal axis.
13. An agricultural conveyor assembly comprising: a main conveyor
comprising a main conveyor tube and a main conveying member in the
main conveyor tube which is arranged to convey particulate material
from an inlet end to an outlet end of the main conveyor tube; a
frame supporting the main conveyor tube at an upward incline from
the inlet end to the outlet end in a working position of the main
conveyor; a loading hopper having a loading opening arranged to
load the particulate material therein; a swing auger assembly
extending in a longitudinal direction from an inlet end in
communication with the loading hopper so as to be arranged to
receive the loaded particulate material from the loading hopper to
an outlet end in communication with the inlet end of the main
conveyor so as to be arranged to discharge the loaded particulate
material into the inlet end of the main conveyor; the swing auger
assembly being pivotally coupled to the main conveyor such that the
swing auger is pivotal relative to the main conveyor tube about a
generally upright swing axis at the inlet end of the main conveyor;
a swing auger support member supporting the swing auger assembly
for pivotal movement about the swing axis through an intermediate
position overtop of the main conveyor between a first offset
position in which the swing auger assembly extends outwardly from
one side of the main conveyor in a first lateral direction and a
second offset position in which the swing auger assembly extend
outwardly from the other side of the main conveyor in a second
lateral direction opposite to the first lateral direction; the
swing auger assembly extending from the discharge end at the inlet
end of the main conveyor to the loading hopper towards the outlet
end of the main conveyor in the intermediate position.
14. The conveyor assembly according to claim 13 wherein the swing
auger assembly is arranged to be supported alongside top of main
conveyor in the intermediate position such that longitudinal axes
are substantially in common vertical plane.
15. The conveyor assembly according to claim 13 further comprising
a hitch connector extending forwardly outward from the inlet end of
the main conveyor opposite the outlet end of the main conveyer and
a stop member arranged to prevent pivotal movement of the swing
auger assembly across the hitch connector between the first and
second offset positions.
16. An agricultural conveyor assembly comprising: a main conveyor
comprising a main conveyor tube and a main conveying member in the
main conveyor tube which is arranged to convey particulate material
from an inlet end to an outlet end of the main conveyor tube; a
frame supporting the main conveyor tube at an upward incline from
the inlet end to the outlet end in a working position of the main
conveyor; a loading hopper having a loading opening arranged to
load the particulate material therein; a swing auger assembly
extending in a longitudinal direction from an inlet end in
communication with the loading hopper so as to be arranged to
receive the loaded particulate material from the loading hopper to
an outlet end in communication with the inlet end of the main
conveyor so as to be arranged to discharge the loaded particulate
material into the inlet end of the main conveyor; the swing auger
assembly being pivotally coupled to the main conveyor such that the
swing auger is pivotal relative to the main conveyor tube about a
generally upright swing axis at the inlet end of the main conveyor;
and the main conveyor tube including an inlet opening arranged to
receive the particulate material from the swing auger assembly
therethrough at the inlet end of the main conveyor tube; an annular
driven member supported about the inlet opening of the main
conveyor tube for rotation relative to the main conveyor about the
swing axis together with the swing auger assembly; and a swing
drive motor connected to the annular driven member so as to be
arranged to rotate the annular driven member and the swing auger
assembly connected therewith about the swing axis.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a conveyor assembly including a
main conveyor and a swing auger assembly for loading the main
conveyor in which the swing auger assembly includes two auger
sections which are slidable relative to one another to vary a
length of the swing auger assembly and in which the swing auger
assembly is suspended from an overhead support member for swinging
motion overtop of the main conveyor between offset positions on
opposing sides of the main conveyor.
BACKGROUND
It is common to use grain augers and the like to transfer grain or
other particulate material from a source area to a target area, for
example from a transport container to a bin or other storage type
container. Transport containers generally involve a container
supported for rolling movement along the ground by wheels spaced
apart at opposing ends of the container. A hopper type discharge is
then typically located between the wheels below the container for
discharging into the auger which subsequently conveys the material
to the storage container.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,184,715 to Feterl; 5,305,866 and 5,788,055 both to
Stewart et al; 4,963,066 to Boppart; 4,603,775 to Plett; and
7,191,889 to Heley; and European Patent Application 0 684 198
disclose various examples of grain augers used for conveying
particulate materials. In each instance a main auger is supported
on a wheeled frame for positioning of the discharge in alignment
with the target area. A swing auger is provided at the inlet of the
main auger for alignment with the source area. The hopper at the
inlet of the swing auger however is restricted to positioning along
an arced path which is difficult to align with the discharge hopper
of a transport container. Often due to the narrow space between
wheel sets within which a discharge hopper on a transport container
is located, it is not possible to displace the swing auger is an
arcing motion under the transport container parked beside the main
auger without multiple steps of advancing and subsequent reversal
of the vehicle position for proper alignment with the discharge
hopper on the vehicle with the inlet hopper on the swing auger. The
swing augers are thus difficult and time consuming to set up and
may result in lost material being transferred due to its poor
alignment.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,428,956 by Scherman discloses an improved feed
auger assembly for a conveyor including first and second auger
sections which are pivotal relative to one another allowing the
loading hopper to be placed through an infinite number of positions
about the inlet end of the main auger; however the resulting
assembly is awkwardly quite large and includes a large number of
parts to control the pivoting movement of the two auger
sections.
Canadian Patent 2,398,015 discloses a telescopic feed assembly
using belts; however there are no means disclosed for applying a
telescopic feed assembly uses augers to take advantage of the
benefits of augers over belt conveyors.
International application WO2010/048695 discloses a feed auger
assembly which telescopically supported in relation to an implement
such as a main auger to which the feed auger is coupled; however
the auger is only operable within a small portion of the full range
of motion of the feed auger assembly.
Canadian Patent 1,137,915 by Togstad and U.S. Pat. No. 7,381,131
disclose examples of extendible augers. Both augers are limited in
their application and are not suited for use in a swing auger
assembly of an agricultural conveyor for example.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a
conveyor assembly comprising:
a main conveyor comprising a main conveyor tube and a main
conveying member in the main conveyor tube which is arranged to
convey particulate material from an inlet end to an outlet end of
the main conveyor tube;
a frame supporting the main conveyor tube at an upward incline from
the inlet end to the outlet end in a working position of the main
conveyor;
a loading hopper having a loading opening arranged to load the
particulate material therein;
a swing auger assembly extending in a longitudinal direction from
an inlet end in communication with the loading hopper to an outlet
end in communication with the inlet end of the main conveyor;
the swing auger assembly being pivotally coupled to the main
conveyor such that the swing auger is pivotal relative to the main
conveyor tube about a generally upright swing axis at the inlet end
of the main conveyor;
the swing auger assembly comprising: a first auger housing
extending in the longitudinal direction of the swing auger assembly
from the loading hopper at the inlet end of the swing auger
assembly to a respective discharge end; a first screw rotatable in
the first auger housing so as to be arranged to convey the
particulate material from the loading hopper to the discharge end
of the first auger tube; a second auger housing extending in the
longitudinal direction of the swing auger assembly from an
intermediate end to the outlet end of the swing auger assembly; a
second screw rotatable in the second auger housing so as to be
arranged to convey the particulate material through the second
auger housing and to discharge the particulate material from the
second auger housing into the inlet end of the main conveyor;
the first auger housing being coupled to the second auger housing
such that: the discharge end of the first auger housing is arranged
to discharge into the second auger housing; and the first auger
housing is slidable relative to the second auger housing in the
longitudinal direction such that a distance between the loading
hopper and the inlet end of the main conveyor is adjustable.
The first auger housing is preferably slidable relative to the
second auger housing between an extended position in which the
discharge end of the first auger housing is adjacent an inner end
of the second auger housing and a retracted position in which the
discharge end of the first auger housing is adjacent the outlet end
of the auger assembly.
Preferably the discharge end of the first auger housing is arranged
to discharge into the second auger housing through a full range of
relative motion of the auger housings between the extended and
retracted positions.
The second auger housing may comprise a lower portion forming a
generally U-shaped trough receiving the second screw therein and an
upper portion comprising a pair of side walls extending upwardly
from opposing sides of the lower portion to define an open top end
of the second auger housing between the side walls.
The side walls forming the upper portion may be spaced apart
farther than the trough of the lower portion.
Preferably each side wall supports a track along which a portion of
the discharge end of the first auger housing is supported for
relative sliding in the longitudinal direction.
The second auger housing may include a support member fixed at an
inner end opposite the outlet end which extends upwardly above the
second screw in which the first auger housing is slidably supported
on the support member at an intermediate location along the first
auger housing between the inlet end of the swing auger assembly and
the discharge end of the first auger housing.
Preferably a linear actuator is coupled between the first and
second auger housings so as to be arranged to control relative
sliding movement between the first and second auger housings in
which the actuator is supported laterally between opposing sides of
the upper portion of the second auger housing alongside a top end
of one of the side walls.
The loading hopper is preferably fixed in relation to the first
auger housing so as to be arranged for sliding movement therewith
relative to the second auger housing.
Preferably a swing auger gearbox assembly is supported at the
outlet end of the swing auger assembly in which the swing auger
gearbox assembly includes a first output shaft telescopically
joined with the first screw for relative sliding movement in the
longitudinal direction while being rotatable together about a first
rotation axis of the first screw, and a second output shaft fixed
to the second screw for rotation therewith about a second rotation
axis parallel to the first rotation axis.
The main conveyor preferably includes a pair of support legs and a
linkage coupling the support legs to the main conveyor such that
the support legs are operable between a working position extending
downwardly and outwardly in opposing lateral direction from the
main conveyor tube for supportably engaging the ground and a
transport position extending substantially alongside the main
conveyor tube.
The linkage supporting the support legs preferably comprises: a
slide member supported on the main conveyor tube for sliding
movement in a longitudinal direction of the main conveyor tube, the
slide member pivotally coupling an inner end of each of the support
legs thereon; a pair of link members each pivotally coupled at a
first end at an intermediate location on a respective one of the
support legs and pivotally coupled at a second end at an anchoring
location fixed relative to the main conveyor tube; and a linear
actuator controlling relative sliding movement of the slide member
between the transport position spaced from the anchoring location
of the link members and the working position in which the slide
member is nearer to the anchoring location than in the transport
position.
The conveyor assembly preferably further comprises: a swing auger
support member supported above the inlet end of the main conveyor;
a pivot member supported on the swing auger support member at a
location spaced above the outlet end of the swing auger assembly
for pivotal movement relative to swing auger support member about
the swing axis; and a suspension arm suspending the swing auger
assembly from the pivot member for pivotal movement together with
the pivot member about the swing axis.
Preferably the swing auger support member supports the swing auger
assembly for pivotal movement about the swing axis through an
intermediate position overtop of the main conveyor between a first
offset position in which the swing auger assembly extends outwardly
from one side of the main conveyor in a first lateral direction and
a second offset position in which the swing auger assembly extend
outwardly from the other side of the main conveyor in a second
lateral direction opposite to the first lateral direction.
Preferably the swing auger assembly extends from the discharge end
at the inlet end of the main conveyor to the loading hopper towards
the outlet end of the main conveyor in the intermediate
position.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is
provided an agricultural conveyor assembly comprising:
a main conveyor comprising a main conveyor tube and a main
conveying member in the main conveyor tube which is arranged to
convey particulate material from an inlet end to an outlet end of
the main conveyor tube;
a frame supporting the main conveyor tube at an upward incline from
the inlet end to the outlet end in a working position of the main
conveyor;
a loading hopper having a loading opening arranged to load the
particulate material therein;
a swing auger assembly extending in a longitudinal direction from
an inlet end in communication with the loading hopper so as to be
arranged to receive the loaded particulate material from the
loading hopper to an outlet end in communication with the inlet end
of the main conveyor so as to be arranged to discharge the loaded
particulate material into the inlet end of the main conveyor;
the swing auger assembly being pivotally coupled to the main
conveyor such that the swing auger is pivotal relative to the main
conveyor tube about a generally upright swing axis at the inlet end
of the main conveyor;
a swing auger support member supported above the inlet end of the
main conveyor;
a pivot member supported on the swing auger support member at a
location spaced above the outlet end of the swing auger assembly
for pivotal movement relative to swing auger support member about
the swing axis; and
a suspension arm suspending the swing auger assembly from the pivot
member for pivotal movement together with the pivot member about
the swing axis.
Preferably the swing auger support member is arranged to be fixed
relative to the main conveyor tube.
The swing auger support member preferably supports the pivot member
on the swing axis.
When the swing auger support member extends upwardly from the main
conveyor tube, the outlet end of the swing auger assembly is
preferably pivotally coupled to the main conveyor at a location
spaced inwardly from the swing auger support member towards the
outlet end of the main conveyor tube.
The swing auger support member preferably comprises a lower portion
extending upwardly from the conveyor tube spaced forwardly from the
swing axis and an upper portion spaced above the discharge end of
the swing auger assembly which extends rearwardly from the lower
portion towards the outlet end of the main conveyor such that the
upper portion supports the pivot member thereon at the swing
axis.
The suspension arm preferably comprises a linear hydraulic lift
actuator arranged to controllably vary a height of the inlet end of
the swing auger assembly as a length of the actuator is adjusted in
response to a hydraulic input.
When the swing auger assembly comprises a first auger housing and a
second auger housing coupled for relative sliding movement in the
longitudinal direction to vary a length of the swing auger
assembly, the suspension arm is preferably coupled at one end to
the pivot member and at the other end to the second auger housing
nearer to an inner end opposite the outlet end than the outlet end
of the swing auger assembly.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is
provided an agricultural conveyor assembly comprising:
a main conveyor comprising a main conveyor tube and a main
conveying member in the main conveyor tube which is arranged to
convey particulate material from an inlet end to an outlet end of
the main conveyor tube;
a frame supporting the main conveyor tube at an upward incline from
the inlet end to the outlet end in a working position of the main
conveyor;
a loading hopper having a loading opening arranged to load the
particulate material therein;
a swing auger assembly extending in a longitudinal direction from
an inlet end in communication with the loading hopper so as to be
arranged to receive the loaded particulate material from the
loading hopper to an outlet end in communication with the inlet end
of the main conveyor so as to be arranged to discharge the loaded
particulate material into the inlet end of the main conveyor;
the swing auger assembly being pivotally coupled to the main
conveyor such that the swing auger is pivotal relative to the main
conveyor tube about a generally upright swing axis at the inlet end
of the main conveyor;
a swing auger support member supporting the swing auger assembly
for pivotal movement about the swing axis through an intermediate
position overtop of the main conveyor between a first offset
position in which the swing auger assembly extends outwardly from
one side of the main conveyor in a first lateral direction and a
second offset position in which the swing auger assembly extend
outwardly from the other side of the main conveyor in a second
lateral direction opposite to the first lateral direction;
the swing auger assembly extending from the discharge end at the
inlet end of the main conveyor to the loading hopper towards the
outlet end of the main conveyor in the intermediate position.
The swing auger assembly is preferably arranged to be supported
alongside top of main conveyor in the intermediate position such
that longitudinal axes are substantially in common vertical
plane.
When the main conveyor comprising a hitch connector extending
forwardly outward from the inlet end of the main conveyor opposite
the outlet end of the main conveyer, there may be provided a stop
member arranged to prevent pivotal movement of the swing auger
assembly across the hitch connector between the first and second
offset positions.
When the main conveyor tube includes an inlet opening arranged to
receive the particulate material from the swing auger assembly
therethrough at the inlet end of the main conveyor tube, the swing
auger assembly preferably includes: an annular driven member
supported about the inlet opening for rotation relative to the main
conveyor about the swing axis together with the swing auger
assembly; and a swing drive motor coupled to the annular driven
member so as to be arranged to rotate the annular driven and the
swing auger assembly therewith about the swing axis.
The swing drive motor is preferably supported on the main conveyor
spaced radially outward from the annular driven member in relation
to the swing axis, and the annular driven member preferably
comprises a circumferential gear operatively connected to swing
drive motor.
When there is an inlet housing supported at the inlet end of the
main conveyor having a top wall locating the inlet opening therein
at swing axis, the annular driven member is preferably supported
within the inlet housing under the top wall of the inlet
housing.
The swing auger assembly preferably includes a pair of auger mounts
extending upwardly from annular driven member at diametrically
opposing sides of the inlet opening in which the auger mounts
pivotally couple the discharge end of the swing auger assembly
thereon for relative pivotal movement about a substantially
horizontal axis.
As described herein the swing auger assembly or feed auger system
according to the present invention can raise and lower without the
use of a mechanical winch device, cables, and manual labour. This
motion can be achieved with the use of a hydraulic cylinder
connected to the swing tube assembly housing at one end, and the
overhead structure assembly mounted to the upper section of the
boot assembly drive area at the opposite end. Left and right swing
motion of the feed auger system can be controlled with a hydraulic
motor, and chain system mounted internally to the boot assembly
drive area and the lower pivot ring assembly, eliminating end user
push/pull labour, and pinch points. The extension and retraction
motion (or telescoping motion) of the feed auger tube assembly can
be accomplished with a hydraulic cylinder mounted internally to the
lower fixed feed tube assembly at one end and the lower section of
the tube assembly in motion. This motion can allow the end user to
quickly align the feed auger hopper to the point of loading as
required. All motions detailed above can be controlled with a
remote electronic device to allow more freedom of movement for the
operator of the equipment.
When combined, the motions explained herein can allow for a left or
right hand loading option without the requirement of the end user
relocating, adjusting, or reconfiguring mounts, chains, pins,
winches, guards, and other associated assemblies. This can allow
the auger assembly as a whole to be located and operated quickly,
as well as accommodate tandem unloading of trailers from either
side of the auger. The extension and retraction of the feed auger
system design is unique to the conveyor described herein because it
can allow the operator to load the auger at any positional length
of the designed stroke. Also, the extension and retraction can
allow the operator to align the hopper to the point of loading
quicker. Finally, when in transport, all motions combined can allow
the parking of the feed auger system to be located on top of the
main auger tube assembly, reducing side load stresses on the main
auger frames and tube.
Unique features of the present invention preferably include the
following:
i) The swing stores on top of the auger thus eliminating twist on
the main tube, and allowing the swing to be pivoted to either side.
Other swings now store on one side of the main tube and can only
pivot to that side, without disconnecting the tractor and rotating
the swing in a 300 degree arc around the hitch to the opposite
side.
ii) The swing tube is lifted with one hydraulic cylinder from a
tower at the hitch end of the device beyond the pivot. Others use a
cable hoist to lift the swing tube.
iii) An adjustable stop is installed at the upper cylinder pivot to
prevent the swing from hitting the tractor while pivoting.
iv) The upper cylinder pivot is mounted directly in line above the
feed pivot to eliminate any bending moment at the feed pivot, for
smooth rotation and less wear.
v) The pivot runs of a polymer bushing, and is rotated using a
hydraulic motor connected to a spur gear driving a circumferential
gear on the swing pivot. Others rotate the swing using hydraulic
motors mounted either on the swing tube or on the hopper.
vi) A longer boot is provided, fed from the front, to improve
capacity. Others use a shorter boot fed from the rear.
vii) Hydraulic hoses are mounted inside the device to eliminate
pinching, severing, weathering and wear. Others have hydraulic
hoses mounted outboard.
viii) Outriggers are activated by a single hydraulic cylinder with
pivot arms forcing the outriggers apart and down. Others use one
cylinder on each outrigger.
ix) Swing auger has telescoping motion by the use of a hydraulic
cylinder mounted internally to the lower fixed tube assembly at one
end and the lower section of the tube assembly in motion. No other
competitor's auger swing offers this feature. This allows accurate
positioning of the hopper under the truck.
x) Entire tower assembly pivots with the ring assembly on top of
the boot, thus allowing sufficient movement to relocate the hopper
to various positions under the truck.
One embodiment of the invention will now be described in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the conveyor assembly.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the swing auger assembly
of the conveyor assembly.
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the swing auger assembly in a first
offset position in solid line and in a second offset position in
broken line.
FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the conveyor assembly with
the swing auger assembly shown offset to one side in the retracted
position.
FIG. 5 is a front elevational view similar to FIG. 4, but with the
swing auger assembly in an extended position.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the swing auger assembly in which
some of the side walls are shown removed.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the inlet housing with some of the
walls shown removed to illustrate the internal components of the
swing drive.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the discharge end of the
second housing auger.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the accompanying figures there is illustrated a
conveyor assembly generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The
assembly 10 is suited for use as an agricultural auger for
conveying particulate material, for example grain, seed or other
similarly particulate materials.
The assembly 10 includes a main conveyor 12 comprised of a main
conveyor tube 14 which is elongate in a respective longitudinal
direction between an inlet end 16 and an outlet end 18. A main
conveying member within the main conveyor tube 14 comprises an
auger (not shown) in the illustrated embodiment which is rotatable
about a longitudinal axis thereof to convey the particulate
material from the inlet end to the outlet end.
The main conveyor also comprises a frame 20 which supports the main
conveyor tube 14 on wheels 22 for rolling movement generally in the
longitudinal direction of the conveyor. The frame comprises an
adjustable linkage which supports the main conveyor through a range
of movement between a working position extending at an upward
incline from the inlet end adjacent the ground to the outlet end
spaced upwardly and rearwardly therefrom and a transport position
in which the main conveyor tube is nearer to horizontal than the
working position. The main conveyor is shown in the transport
position in FIG. 1, and in the working position in FIGS. 4 and 5.
The frame further comprises an auxiliary support 24 comprising a
central post and a plurality of cables connected between the post
and the various longitudinal positions along the conveyor tube to
stiffen the tube and resist bending along the length thereof.
The main conveyor further comprises a hitch connection 26 coupled
to the main conveyor tube adjacent the inlet end thereof such that
the hitch connection extends forwardly beyond the inlet end. The
hitch connection permits the connection of the inlet end of the
main conveyor tube to a towing vehicle such that the vehicle can be
towed in the normal forward working direction of the vehicle with
the main conveyor tube extending rearwardly from the inlet end to
the outlet end trailing rearwardly therefrom.
The conveyor assembly 10 further comprises a swing auger assembly
28 coupled to the inlet end of the main conveyor tube to assist in
loading particulate material into the main conveyor. The swing
auger assembly serves to convey material from an inlet end 30
thereof to a respective outlet end 32 arranged to discharge
particulate material loaded therein into the inlet end of the main
conveyor. The swing auger assembly is pivotal about an upright
swing axis at the inlet end of the main conveyor tube.
A loading hopper 34 is provided for loading the particulate
material into the inlet end of the swing auger assembly. The hopper
34 is fixed to the inlet end of the swing auger assembly for
movement therewith about the upright swing axis. The hopper is
similar to many convention swing auger hoppers so as to be both
wider and longer than it is in height and so as to be relatively
low in profile for being received under the discharge of various
implements such as the discharge chute under particulate material
carrying trailers for example. The hopper includes an open top end
spanning substantially the full width and length of the hopper into
which particulate material is arranged to be received. A suitable
conveying mechanism at the bottom end of the hopper conveys the
loaded particulate material through a discharge tube 36 connected
to the inlet end of the swing auger assembly to which it is
coupled. The material is then conveyed in the longitudinal
direction of the swing auger assembly from the inlet end to the
outlet end prior to the loading into the main conveyor tube.
The main conveyor tube is provided with an inlet housing 38 at the
inlet end thereof for supporting the swing auger assembly 28
pivotally thereon. The inlet housing 38 substantially surrounds the
inlet end of the main conveyor tube and comprises two side walls 40
extending upwardly above the tube at opposing sides thereof to
define a receiving chamber above the tube in open communication
with the conveying member rotatable within the tube 14. A top wall
42 of the inlet housing is connected between the two side walls
spaced above the tube for locating an inlet opening 44 therein
adjacent the inner end of the inlet housing so as to be spaced
rearwardly from the front end of the housing and conveyor tube.
A main drive 46 is mounted at the inlet end of the conveyor tube
and inlet housing for receiving a drive input, for example
connection to a power take off shaft of a tractor or a hydraulic
output of a tractor. The main drive 46 includes a first output
shaft 48 concentric with the main conveyor tube for direct
connection to the main conveying member rotatable therein for
driving the main conveyor screws. The main drive also includes a
second output shaft 50 which is parallel and spaced above the first
output shaft to extend rearwardly through the receiving chamber of
the inlet housing for driving the auger screws of the swing auger
assembly as described in further detail below. The inlet housing 38
also receives a first angle gear box 52 therein which receives the
second output shaft of the main drive as an input therein and which
has a respective output shaft concentric with the inlet opening 44
in the top wall of the inlet housing through which the output shaft
communicates to the swing auger assembly.
The swing auger assembly is supported on a swing auger support
member 54 in the form of a tower structure fixed to the inlet end
of the main conveyor tube to extend upwardly from the inlet housing
upon which it is mounted. The support member 54 is a rigid frame
member having a lower portion 56 extending upwardly from the inlet
housing on the inlet end of the main conveyor tube at a location
spaced forwardly of the inlet opening so as to extend generally in
the direction of the upright swing axis towards an upper portion 58
thereabove. The upper portion 58 extends upwardly from the lower
portion at a rearward incline spaced above the outlet end of the
swing auger assembly to extend towards the outlet end of the main
conveyor tube. The top end of the upper portion 58 is located at
the swing axis as opposed to the lower portion which remains spaced
from the swing axis along the length thereof.
A pivot member 60 is rotatably supported adjacent the top end of
the upper portion so as to be rotatable relative to the fixed
support member 54 about the swing axis. The top end of the upper
portion of the support member 54 includes an overhanging portion at
the swing axis to which the pivot member is coupled such that the
pivot member is supported beneath the overhang portion to permit
ready coupling of the pivot member 60 to the swing auger assembly
therebelow. In this manner the swing auger assembly can be
suspended from the pivot member so that the swing auger assembly
and the pivot member are pivotal together about the upright swing
axis relative to the support member 54 fixed on the main conveyor
tube.
A suspension arm 62 in the form of an adjustable hydraulic actuator
is pivotally coupled at a cylinder end to the pivot member at the
pivot axis while being coupled at a cylinder end to the swing auger
assembly at a location spaced from the swing axis. In this manner,
controllably adjusting the length of the actuator forming the
suspension arm 62 functions to raise and lower the height of the
loading hopper at the inlet end of the swing auger assembly
relative to the main conveyor tube.
The swing auger assembly is supported on the inlet housing by an
annular driven member 64. The annular driven member is supported
about the inlet opening on the top wall so as to be concentric with
the swing axis for rotation with the swing auger assembly relative
to the top wall of the inlet housing on the conveyor tube. More
particularly the annular driven member 64 comprises a
circumferential gear 66 supported within the interior of the inlet
housing so as to be beneath the top wall. The gear 66 is coupled to
a pivot ring 68 above the top wall which includes a peripheral
flange overlapping the edge of the inlet opening in the top wall. A
collar extending through the inlet opening joins the pivot ring 68
above the top wall and the gear 66 below the top wall for rotation
together about the swing axis.
The pivot ring 68 supports two pivot mounts 70 thereon at
diametrically opposed sides of the inlet opening. The two mounts
extend upwardly for pivotally coupling a discharge housing 72 of
the swing auger assembly therebetween for relative pivotal movement
about a common horizontal axis extending between the two pivot
mounts. The swing auger assembly is pivoted about the common
horizontal axis of the two pivot mounts 70 as the height of the
loading hopper is adjusted by extending and retracting the
hydraulic actuator forming the suspension arm 62.
The rotation of the swing auger assembly about the swing axis is
driven by a swing drive motor 74 comprising a hydraulic orbit motor
mounted on the top wall of the inlet housing at a location spaced
forwardly of the inlet opening adjacent the bottom end of the auger
support member 54. The motor 74 is thus spaced radially outward
from the annular driven member about the inlet opening in relation
to the swing axis.
The motor 74 is typically mounted externally on the top side of the
inlet housing with an output shaft extending through the top wall
for connection to a drive sprocket 76 mounted internally within the
inlet housing. A suitable drive chain 78 extends about the drive
sprocket 76 and the circumferential gear 66 of the annular driven
member so that the output of the swing drive motor controls the
rotation of the annular driven member about the swing axis which in
turn controls the swinging of the swing auger assembly connected
thereto for pivotal movement about the swing axis relative to the
main conveyor tube.
The swing auger assembly is pivotal through a range, typically
corresponding to approximately 300.degree. from a first offset
position shown in solid line in FIG. 3 to an opposing second offset
position shown in broken line in FIG. 3. In the first offset
position, the swing auger assembly extends outwardly from one side
of the main conveyor in a first lateral direction inclined
forwardly. From the first offset position the swing auger assembly
is pivotal rearwardly towards the outlet end of the main conveyor
tube to an intermediate position overtop of the main conveyor in
which the swing auger assembly is along the top side of main
conveyor such that a longitudinal axis of the swing auger assembly
and a longitudinal axis of the main auger lie in a substantially
common vertical plane.
The swing auger assembly can continue to swing overtop of the main
conveyor tube to the opposing side to the second offset position in
which the swing auger assembly extends outwardly from the other
side of the main conveyor in a second lateral direction opposite to
the first lateral direction. The swing auger assembly is also
inclined forwardly in the second offset position. In this manner
the swing auger assembly can be pivoted between the first and
second offset positions overtop of the main conveyor tube while the
main conveyor tube remains connected at the hitch connection to the
towing vehicle. This is particularly advantageous when it is
desirable to unload particulate material from two different sources
into the swing auger assembly when the two sources are on opposing
sides of the main conveyor tube and the towing vehicle remains
connected to the hitch connection of the main conveyor.
Due to the location of the auger support member 54 at the inlet end
of the main conveyor and the location of the pivotal connection of
the swing auger assembly at the swing axis being spaced rearwardly
from the support member, the support member effectively acts as a
stop which prevents swinging motion of the swing auger assembly
across the hitch connection between the first and second offset
positions.
To further limit the pivotal movement of the swing auger assembly
across the hitch connection to prevent damaging contact with a
towing vehicle an adjustable stop 80 is coupled to the pivot
member. The stop 80 comprises a protrusion projecting radially
outward from the swing axis which is arranged to engage the upper
portion of the support member 54 when the swing auger assembly
reaches either one of the first or second offset positions to limit
forward rotation of the swing auger assembly from either one of the
offset positions. Accordingly only rearward pivotal movement from
either of the offset positions is permitted to limit the swinging
motion across the main conveyor tube. The orientation of the stop
80 can be varied relative to the pivot member to allow setting
different limits to the range of pivotal movement of the swinging
auger assembly depending upon the configuration.
When displacing the swing auger assembly about the swing axis, it
is desirable to stabilize the inlet end of the main conveyor tube.
This is accomplished using outriggers comprising a pair of support
legs 82 which are coupled by a linkage to the main conveyor such
that the legs are operable between a working position extending
downwardly and outwardly in opposing lateral directions from the
main conveyor tube for supportably engaging the ground, and a
transport position extending substantially along the bottom side of
the main conveyor tube.
The linkage includes a slide member 84 supported for sliding
movement in the longitudinal direction along the bottom side of the
main conveyor tube adjacent the inlet end. The inner ends of each
support leg 82 are pivotally coupled to the slide member 84. The
linkage further includes two link members 86 in which each link
member is pivotally coupled at a first end at an intermediate
location on a respective one of support legs 82 and at a second end
at an anchoring location on the bottom side of the main conveyor
tube at a fixed location spaced from the slide member. In this
manner sliding of the slide member towards and away from the
anchoring location of the link members causes the support legs to
be displaced between the working and the transport positions noted
above. A single linear hydraulic actuator 88 is coupled along the
bottom side of the conveyor tube to be fixed to the conveyor tube
at a cylinder end and to be coupled to the slide member at a piston
end. Accordingly extending and retracting the single actuator 88
causes both support legs 82 to be controllably displaced between
the working and transport positions.
The swing auger assembly 28 comprises a first auger housing 90
extending in the longitudinal direction of the auger assembly
between a first end forming the inlet end of the assembly and a
second end forming an intermediate discharge end 92. The first
auger housing is generally tubular between the inlet end fixed to
the discharge tube of the loading hopper and a respective discharge
spout 94 for discharging into a second auger housing 96. A first
auger screw is rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof within
the first auger housing for conveying particulate material loaded
in the loading hopper to the discharge spout 94 for discharging
into the second auger housing 96.
The second auger housing 96 of the swing auger assembly also
extends in the longitudinal direction from a first end comprising
an intermediate inner end 98 to a second opposing end defining the
outlet end of the swing auger assembly. The first and second auger
housings are coupled such that the first housing extends parallel
along the top of the second auger housing with the discharge of the
first auger housing being aligned with an open top end of the
second auger housing through a full range of relative sliding
movement between the first and second housings in the longitudinal
direction.
The relative sliding between the first and second housings permits
the overall length of the swing auger assembly to be varied by
varying the distance between the inlet end supporting the loading
hopper thereon and the outlet end supported on the inlet end of the
main conveyor. The first and second auger housings are supported
for relative sliding movement between an extended position shown in
FIG. 5 in which the discharge end of the first auger housing is
adjacent the inner end 98 of the second auger housing and a
retracted position shown in FIG. 4 in which the discharge end of
the first auger housing is adjacent the outlet end of the second
auger housing.
The second auger housing includes a lower portion which forms a
generally U shaped trough having a bottom and two sides extending
in the longitudinal direction for closely fitting a second auger
screw 100 rotatably therein about a respective longitudinal axis.
The second auger screw 100 conveys the particulate material
discharged into the second auger housing from the first auger
housing from the discharge spout 94 to the discharge housing 72 of
the assembly.
In addition to the lower portion 102, the second auger housing
includes an upper portion 104 comprising two opposed side walls
extending upward and outwardly from the two sides of the trough
forming the lower portion such that the upper portion is wider than
the lower portion. The first auger housing is supported to be
located recessed partly into the upper portion 104 of the second
auger housing.
More particularly the second auger housing includes a track 106
along the inner side of each side wall of the upper portion 104
such that the discharge spout 94 at the discharge end of the first
auger housing is supported at opposing sides in respective ones of
the tracks 106 by respective rollers supported for rotation within
the tracks.
Further support is provided at an intermediate location along the
first auger housing by an inner end wall 108 of the second auger
housing which encloses the inner end of the lower trough portion
and which extends upwardly above the upper portion 104 to locate an
aperture 110 therein which slidably receives the round tube of the
first auger housing therethrough.
The second auger housing also includes a cover member 112 in the
form of a rigid arch extending overtop the first auger housing and
which is rigidly joined between the two side walls of the upper
portion 104 adjacent the inner end of the second housing. The cover
member 112 serves as an anchoring location for the suspension arm
62 such that the piston end of the suspension arm is pivotally
coupled to the cover member of the second auger housing at a
location nearer to the inner end of the second auger housing than
the outlet end thereof.
The outlet end of the second auger housing is connected to the
discharge housing 72 so that the outlet end of the lower trough
portion openly communicates through the interior of the discharge
housing so that particulate material conveyed by the second auger
screw is discharged through the discharge housing to a bottom
opening of the discharge housing forming a chute aligned with the
inlet opening between the two pivot mounts upon which the discharge
housing 72 is supported. In this manner the particulate material
from the loading hopper is conveyed into the first auger housing
which in turn conveys the particulate material to the discharge
spout 94 having an open bottom end aligned with the open top end of
the trough through the full range of relative motion therebetween.
Regardless of the location of where the particulate material is
discharged from the first auger housing to the second auger
housing, the rotation of the second auger screw conveys the
particulate material to the discharge housing 72 at the outlet end
of the swing auger assembly to discharge the material into the
inlet opening of the inlet housing which in turn communicates with
the main conveying member of the main conveying tube to convey the
material through the main conveyor to the outlet end thereof.
The augers in the swing auger assembly are driven by a swing auger
gear box assembly which includes a second angle gear box 114
mounted within the interior of the discharge housing 72 and an
external gear box 116 mounted externally at the outlet end of the
swing auger assembly. The second angle gear box 114 includes an
input shaft concentric with the discharge opening through the
bottom of the discharge opening 72 which is in turn arranged to be
concentric with the output shaft of the first angle gear box
extending through the inlet opening when the swing auger assembly
is in a normal working position with the loading hopper on the
ground.
One output of the second angle gear box 114 extends externally
through the end wall of the discharge housing 72 for communication
into the external gear box 116 which transfers the drive to a first
output shaft 118 of the swing auger gear box assembly. The first
output shaft is slidably and telescopically received into the first
auger screw at the rotation axis thereof such that the first auger
screw and the output shaft are slidable relative to one another
between the extended and retracted positions of the swing auger
assembly while remaining keyed to rotate with one another by mating
non circular cross sections.
Another output of the second angle gear box 114 defines a second
output shaft 120 of the swing auger gear box assembly which is
directly connected to the second auger screw for driving the
rotation thereof together with the first auger screw. In this
manner, the drive for the swing auger assembly is communicated by
the upper output shaft of the main gear box at the end of the main
conveyor tube through the inlet housing to the first angled gear
box which then communicates through the inlet opening to the second
angle gear box in the discharge housing 72. The second angle gear
box then communicates a first rotation through the external gear
box and through the telescoping first output shaft 118 to drive the
first auger screw while simultaneously driving the second output
shaft 120. Rotation of the first auger screw can also be connected
by suitable drive connections through the discharge tube of the
loading hopper to a suitable conveying mechanism in the loading
hopper for conveying the particulate material into the swing auger
assembly.
The sliding movement of the first auger housing relative to the
second auger housing together with the hopper fixed to the first
auger housing is controlled by a respective hydraulic linear
actuator 122 mounted on the second auger housing and operatively
connected to the first auger housing. The actuator 122 is supported
to extend in the longitudinal direction alongside the top end of
one of the side walls of the upper portion 104 at a location in the
lateral direction which is between the two side walls. A cylinder
end of the actuator 122 is fixed to the second auger housing
adjacent the discharge housing at the outlet end thereof while the
piston end extends through the end wall of the second auger housing
at the inner end thereof for connection to the first auger housing
adjacent the loading hopper at the inlet end thereof. The piston
end of the cylinder is substantially enclosed by the cover member
112 of the second auger housing through which the piston end is
received. The piston end is slidable through a respective aperture
in the end wall such that the actuator can be freely extended and
retracted to vary the distance between the loading hopper and the
outlet end of the swing auger assembly.
As shown in the transport position of FIG. 1, the swing auger
assembly can be stored in the intermediate position for transport
by extending along the top side the main conveyor tube from the
inlet end of the conveyor tube to the loading hopper which extends
toward the outlet end of the main conveyor tube. In this manner the
weight of the swing auger assembly is balanced about the
longitudinal axis of the main conveyor tube so that there is no
torque being applied to the conveyor tube with the swing auger
assembly stored in the intermediate transport position.
For use of the conveyor assembly, the main conveyor is displaced
using the frame upon which it is supported into the working
position with the two support legs being also extended into the
working position to stabilize the inlet end thereof. The swing
drive is used to pivot the swing auger assembly to one side of the
main conveyor. Using the lift cylinder forming the suspension arm
62, the extension thereof causes the loading hopper to be lowered
towards the ground and towards a working position. Wheels at the
end of the loading hopper opposite the discharge tube thereof
support the end of the loading hopper for rolling movement on the
ground as the auger swings about the swing axis. To vary the
distance of the loading hopper from the main conveyor tube in the
lateral direction, the actuator 122 can be extended or retracted as
shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In this manner the loading hopper can be
readily positioned in a variety of orientations about the swing
axis and at different distances from the swing axis using the
appropriate actuators to readily align the loading hopper with the
discharge spout of a desired source of particulate material.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein
above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments
of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without
department from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all
matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be
interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
* * * * *